By Jerry Vondas

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Dorothy Horvat served her country during World War II as a member of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve, beginning a lifetime of service.

“My mother devoted her life to her family, to her country and to the community where she was raised and where she raised her children,” said her daughter, Sandra Johnston of Heidelberg.

Dorothy J. Veseleni Horvat, formerly of McKees Rocks, died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, in Golden Living Center of Mt. Lebanon. She was 88.

Mrs. Horvat had the education and desire to serve, which landed her the position of executive secretary of personnel assigned to the Pentagon during the war.

“We are a Marine family,” Johnston said. “Our father was also a Marine during World War II who saw action in the Pacific, especially in the battle for Iwo Jima.

“And for years, my mother was active with the Women Marines Association and attended their reunions.”

Mrs. Horvat grew up in McKees Rocks, the daughter of railroader Michael Veseleni and his wife, Anna Cordilla Veseleni.

In 1940, she graduated from the former Miles Bryan High School in McKees Rocks at 16 and went on to earn her business certificate from Business Training College, now Point Park University.

In the years after her marriage to businessman Otto Horvat, Mrs. Horvat held a number of executive secretarial positions with firms, including PNC Corp. and Matthews International.

While working and raising her children, Mrs. Horvat was active with the PTA of Sto-Rox High School. Upon retirement, she volunteered at Allegheny General Hospital in the North Side.

She served four times as president of the Pittsburgh chapter of Executive Women International.

In addition to her daughter, Sandra, Mrs. Horvat is survived by children Gary Horvat of Lancaster and Valerie Ashbaugh of Uniontown; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Her husband preceded her in death, in 1972, as did a grandson, Shane Keller.

Family and friends will be received from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Schepner-McDermott Funeral Home, 165 Noble Ave., Crafton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in St. John of God Parish, the Church at St. Mary's, McKees Rocks.

Interment will be in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Cecil with military honors.

Jerry Vondas is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7823 or jvondas@tribweb.com.

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